🌱 School Contact Tracing & Quarantining End + Applegate Trail

Happy Monday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know going on locally today.

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First, today's weather:

Mild with plenty of sun. High: 59 Low: 41.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Bentonville today:

1. Four of Northwest Arkansas' largest school districts, including Bentonville, have announced that they will be ending contact tracing and mandatory quarantining for staff and students. The decision comes less than two weeks after Governor Asa Hutchinson's Feb. 1 announcement that contact tracing and quarantining is no longer required in schools across the state. According to Leslee Wright, communications director for Bentonville School District, said that "ending contact tracing will take a significant burden off Bentonville School District nursing and teaching staff." Wright noted that a total of 5,426 students have been quarantined this year, including nearly 2,600 since the new semester began on Jan. 5. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
2. Bentonville Parks & Recreation has announced the reopening of Applegate Trail this weekend after it sustained damage during a significant flood event in April 2021. The hard surface trail had been closed between SW 2nd Street and NW 3rd Street since the flood. The completion of recent repairs and restoration will reestablish a vital connection for trail users who wish to enter Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. (Press Release Desk)
3. Looking for a new home in the Bentonville area? Five new local homes have recently hit the market and they likely won't last long. Get a head start on your search by taking a look at these properties, which range from $89,000 to $899,900. (Bentonville Patch)

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Today in Bentonville:

• Valentine's Pie And Beer Pairing At Bentonville Brewing Company (2:00 PM)
• Singles Bike Ride At Coler (5:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Forty students were awarded 51 spots in the Arkansas All-State Band this weekend! (Facebook)
• The City of Bentonville will conduct a public involvement virtual meeting to discuss the proposed construction of a new interchange on Interstate 49 and extend NE J Street northward from Tiger Boulevard across I-49 for approximately 1.1 miles. (Facebook)
• There is another event on the 2022 Race Series calendar! Make plans to run the Irish 5K/10K on Saturday, March 12, at the Bentonville Community Center. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.